Hairballs in Cats: Why They Happen and How to Actually Stop Them
MOFU MOFU Pet Food
Short answer: a hairball is swallowed hair that did not pass through the gut, and it is a shedding and grooming problem before it is a stomach problem. Brush two to three times a week, reduce how much hair the cat swallows, support gut motility with fibre and water, and rule out over-grooming from itch or stress. Frequent hairballs warrant a vet visit, not a tube of paste.
What a hairball actually is
Despite the name, it is not a ball and it is not hair from the stomach. It is a cylindrical mat of hair, food and mucus that forms in the stomach after the cat swallows loose fur while grooming. Most of that hair passes through the intestines normally. When too much accumulates, the cat brings it up.
Which means the useful question is not “how do I treat the hairball” but “why is this cat swallowing so much hair, and why is it not passing?”
Why some cats get them constantly
1. They shed a lot and are not brushed
The single biggest factor. Every gram of hair you remove with a brush is a gram the cat does not swallow. Long-haired cats and heavy shedders are dramatically more prone.
2. Over-grooming
A cat that grooms compulsively — because of fleas, allergies, pain or stress — swallows far more hair than a relaxed cat. Look for bald patches on the belly or forelegs as the tell.
3. Slow gut motility
Hair passes because the gut moves it along. Dehydration, low fibre, obesity and inactivity all slow that down, letting hair accumulate instead of exiting.
4. Season and coat change
Moulting periods produce a spike in swallowed hair. In Malaysia this is less seasonal than in temperate climates, but air-conditioning and indoor living still create coat cycles.
What actually works
- Brush two to three times a week with a rubber curry brush or fine comb, more often in moulting periods and for long-haired cats.
- Add fibre so hair has something to bind to and move along. Plain cooked pumpkin or a food with natural fibre both help.
- Raise water intake — a fountain, extra bowls, or one wet meal a day.
- Control fleas year-round. Itching is the most common cause of over-grooming.
- Keep the cat at a healthy weight. Obese cats cannot reach their own back, so the coat there mats and sheds in clumps they then swallow.
- Treat stress if the grooming is behavioural — a quiet routine, separate resources in multi-cat homes.
What does not work
- Butter or petroleum jelly on the paws. Folk remedy, no evidence, and it can cause loose stool or pancreatitis in quantity.
- Hairball paste as a permanent solution. It lubricates hair through; it does nothing about why there is so much.
- Shaving the cat. Does not stop shedding, removes insulation and sun protection.
- Ignoring it. Hair can cause constipation or, rarely, a blockage.
How often is too often?
| Frequency | What it means |
|---|---|
| Once or twice a year | Normal for a heavy-coated cat |
| Monthly | Worth improving grooming and fibre |
| Weekly or more | See a vet — could be over-grooming, GI disease or a motility problem |
| Hairball plus vomiting food or weight loss | See a vet promptly |
When it is a medical problem
Book a vet if you see repeated hairballs alongside any of these: appetite loss, weight loss, constipation or straining, lethargy, a dull coat, or bald patches. Inflammatory bowel disease, parasites and hyperthyroidism all present with coat and gut changes that look like “just hairballs” from the outside.
Where MOFU MOFU fits
We approach hairballs from the shedding end, because that is where they start. Slow-baked at 90°C with natural fibre, up to 81.1% fresh meats and up to 45% protein for coat condition, salt-free and oil-free, plus 30 billion live probiotics to support gut function. Less shedding in means less hair swallowed, and better motility means what is swallowed keeps moving.
Read how to reduce fur shedding or start with a 100g trial pack.
Frequently asked
Do hairball pastes work?
They can help a single stubborn hairball pass by lubricating it. They are not a treatment for frequent hairballs, which is a grooming and motility issue.
Is grass good for hairballs?
Some cats eat grass and vomit, which brings hair up with it. It is not a reliable solution and outdoor grass carries parasite risk.
Do long-haired cats always get hairballs?
No — but they need far more brushing than short-haired cats. Daily grooming is the difference.
Can hairballs kill a cat?
Rarely, but a blockage can be serious. A cat that is straining, off food or vomiting repeatedly needs a vet, not a home remedy.
